Shock and Fire Hazard Posed by Cloth Insulated Wiring

Prior to 1950, many electrical systems relied on cloth insulation. Some cloth-insulated wiring systems can look like modern wiring, but cloth-insulated wiring systems can pose shock and fire hazards.

Does Your House Have Cloth Wiring?
Was your house built prior to 1950? If so, do your electrical wires look like the ones in the photo?

Cloth Insulation Falls Off Wires
Cloth insulation can become brittle over time and fall off the wires, sometimes in chunks. Bare wires pose the danger of shocking anyone who accidentally touches them or of causing fires if two bare wires touch or come too close.

Cloth-Insulated Electrical Systems May Be Ungrounded
Cloth-insulated wiring systems may not have been grounded. Grounding a system provides additional assurance that excess electrical charges will be routed out of your house and into the ground.

One benefit of grounding that many people are unaware of is that without a grounding, low-level electrical charges can build up in your wires and can shorten the lives of computers, entertainment systems, refrigerators, microwaves - any device which includes electronic components.

Even more importantly, grounding protects people and animals from shocks should an appliance or an electrical system malfunction.

Upgrade for Safety
We recommend upgrading cloth-insulated wiring systems for fire safety, protection of modern electronics, and for the safety of your family against electrical shocks. If your electrical wiring was installed prior to 1950 and you think that it might have cloth insulation, call our in-office electrician for a free consultation or Free Home Safety Inspection.